The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) in Virgin Gorda is against the return to the same school of a male student that brutally beat and hospitalised a female student in October last year, 2017. Photo: VINO/File

VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI- Many persons have accused the controversial Education and Cultural Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) of being a bully. Well, he may have met his match in Virgin Gorda.

It was the beginning of the 2017 school term when Hon Walwyn ordered a male student, who in October of last year was responsible for brutally beating a young female student who had to be hospitalised at the state-owned Peebles Hospital on the main Island of Tortola with head and neck injuries, to be returned to school.

It was alleged that while standing along the corridor on the school’s compound, the female student of Dominican Republic descent was pushed by the same 14 year old, who is a student of the school.

After inquiring why he had pushed her, the boy reportedly threw a plate of food in her face and started to deal her blows.

During the beating, he allegedly kicked her in the face and stomped on her head.

Following the incident, the Royal Virgin Islands Police (RVIPF) charged the young man with occasioning actual bodily harm, according to a police statement last year.

Walwyn sends him back to school; PTA says NO!

However, parents and teachers stood up to the Education Minister demanding that the student not be returned, after Mr Walwyn ordered the student back at the same school with the victim.

At a Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) meeting held on Monday February 6, 2017 the body voted overwhelmingly to ask the Minister and the Ministry not for the student to return to the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) in Virgin Gorda.

It is our newsroom’s understanding that if the Minister did not agree to the PTA’s request parents were willing to lock down the school and teachers were willing to go on strike.

A teacher called our newsroom this morning February 13, 2017 to advise that the student is not in school anymore and it appears that “Mr Walwyn has listened for once.”

When asked about the situation with supplies for his school, the teacher confirmed that the BFEC is not given any attention by the Ministry “despite all the talk and spin by the Minister and at the PTA meeting held last week, monies were collected to assist the school in securing supplies.”

Shame on Walwyn

Last week, the Enis Adams Primary School sent out a Facebook message begging parents for toilet paper and paper towel for the school. Most of the schools have been going through the same issues, according to a Ministry official; however Mr Walwyn told the parents to ignore the unnecessary appeal and his Ministry has the supplies.

Many of the schools and parents have called Minister Walwyn a liar over this matter, as other schools have faced the same situation for months despite making numerous requests of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

The public and teachers were outraged when he wasted a million dollars to build a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School just before the 2015 snap election when schools did not even have toilet paper or water.

No Hon Minister of Education. Suppose it was your child that this boy had nearly kill. Only who in the kitchen does feel the heat. Why should my child and the other hundred of innocent children report to school every day in fear of one demon? Your children are not here in VG to be part of the unfair hand you sit at your desk and deal us with. So, what you want to see happen next. Teachers have been victimized, children have been victimized and tortured by one child. You will get serious when he put one of us up the funeral home and then you send a wreath to our families?

This shortage of basic supplies has been going on for over a year with no relief in sight. This is sickening when these Ministers and their inflated delegations are attending every meeting and conference around the globe. No wonder it is being said by our Premier that the economy is BOOMING.

So what if the parents have to help give supplies to the schools? Meen understand the big deal. Thus issue was going on under the VIP government with Fahie as minister and he had more move to deal with education than Walwyn have now. All like make big deal out of nothing. Your children getting free education.. I give to the schools all the time with no problem.

Why should parents be sending toilet paper for their child to use? These things are budgeted supplies and general things that the tax payers cintribute for. Education is nit free my friend! Matter of fact it is very expensive. Books unuforms lunch money wether cooked home or bought. Proverty has risen in the VI tremendously and our goverment tyrns a blind eye. They focus on lining their pockets qith 80% of the purse and give 20% to the people if so much. The BVI is in a bad situation for most but not entirely gone to the dogs thank God. These guys are cool people and well respecred business men but they are not politicians. THEY NEED TO TAKEN OUT OF POWER. DOES THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI HAVE THE BALLS.

Normally I would say don't give up on that young man. STILL don't give up on him but to beat a girl like she kill one of your family points to some deep troubling issues. With that being said he needs to be separated from that young lady. Actually his family should be SUED but that is another story.

I am with you. This students have some serious mental health issues that needs to be addressed. You can not release a mentally deranged person back on the student population. Get him the help he needs outside the school system. You cannot put the welfare of one over hundreds of innocent children. Good job Virgin Gorda for standing up to foolish lawmakers. I hope the parents of that child that was beaten pressed charges against that young man.

Andrew is not the problem because if I remember well, he introduced another kind of problem in school which is the maternity ward. A strong PTA is suppose to have power more than they know. I do not advocate for giving up on the young man, because yes he need help, but how much more people he going disable before he really gets rehabilitated? Maybe if the Minister goes to the school while the teen is having a bad day, he too might expose himself to the rage of an angry child. This child has to live in fear. Her family, most likely, have to be careful they don't mash the wrong set of corns because they're not from here. The right to live peacefully in a right that every man-jack is suppose to have. How can she concentrate in school, not knowing if he's around the corner waiting to give her round 2. Come on man Myron. You disappoint me with this one. Find the other way around it.

HELL YES I SECOND THE MOTION I think he needs to go back in he was doing a way better job then Myron and he also made sure to focus on all of the schools .....even if it he were to visit 7 times a month .... Myron mostly focuses on the ESHS school the BFEC SCHOOL NEEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!so much things and haven't gotten a sent up to yet ,....the school needs rewiring and its always being said that it will happen he even brought people in to survey the classes to see all the work that needs to be done and he still doesn't do anything the school has different animal infestations due to the holes in the ruff etc ..........

Some of allyo too like commess. Instead of finding the best way to deal with problems, some are encouraging others to strike, fight, dismiss, fire and speak ill-will about our people. United we stand to help our country when it
necessary. Let us be aware of those watching at a distance and watching us tear each other down, rather than building each other up.

Something is wrong somewhere with this story. The boy just push and gave a brutal beating after she asked him why he pushed her. Unless he is mentally disturbed, information is missing from this story.

I am so proud of this school. Just be careful that he doesn't try to move the principal. If it happens, I sure hope they stay united in the fight.
ESHS what are we waiting on? Imagine a small school had the strength to do it. I guess the head isn't working to or is worried about kissing the Minister's butt. It also shows that you are concerned about your students and TEACHERS. I need to come work over there. Ha ha I am so proud of you guys.
The speaker of the house brought back a young man there trying to play most concerned, but she had no idea or care to see what the teachers have to deal with. We should have stood up together with this situation. Thought our head had the b---- like the one in VG. Guess not.

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